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By MARC BURRAGE, Regional Managing Director

Why should we hire you?” is a very common interview question. How you answer can help you set a positive tone for the rest of the meeting. Your answer gives you a chance to engage the interviewer in what you have to say from the outset.

Your response to “why should we hire you?” will show if you are the best candidate for the job. Your answer is crucial in convincing the employer that you are the right person for the job. 

In this blog you’ll find advice on preparing a succinct, sharp and impactful response to this question. If you panic and give an incoherent and unstructured response, you risk disengaging the interviewer from the start. 

ANSWER THE QUESTION ‘WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?’ WITH AN ELEVATOR PITCH 

You must try to see the ‘why should we hire you?’ interview question as an opportunity to sell yourself. Focus the interviewer on all the reasons why you are the right candidate for this position. A great way to do this is to incorporate the principles of an effective ‘elevator pitch’ into your answer.

An ‘elevator pitch’ is a short summary of who you are, your background and your relevant work experience. An elevator pitch is a short speech that you can deliver in the time it takes to ride in an elevator. Aim for about 30-60 seconds long.

Preparing an ‘elevator pitch’ style response ahead of time can be hugely valuable. A well rehearsed pitch can help to explain clearly why you are a great fit for the job and an ideal team member.

WHY WOULD WE HIRE YOU? USE THE ‘POWER OF THREE’ TO CONVINCE YOUR INTERVIEWER 

A good formula for an effective ‘elevator pitch’ is to list three strong reasons why the employer should hire you.

Of course, the employer will want to hear more than just three reasons why you are suitable for the role. By summarising three key points at the start of the meeting, you can expand on them throughout the interview. Use these three reasons as a foundation for later responses. And keep referring back to your foundational points as a reminder.

The ‘power of three’ in communication can be extremely effective in engaging with an audience: 

Persuade and influence your interviewer 

Research has pointed in the past to the power of threes in persuasion and influence. In advertisements, the use of three distinct points was particularly persuasive. However, using four or more claims tended to make audiences sceptical, negating an initially positive impression. 

Improve the recall of your interviewer 

Research also indicates that the ‘power of three’ can help your audience remember and retain information. Scientists have found that the number of items we can recall in short-term memory is closer to three or four, no more.

Public figures often use the ‘power of three’ to great effect. Former US President Barack Obama frequently speaks in sets of three. His “Yes We Can” 2008 presidential acceptance speech included at least a dozen such triples.

Encourage engagement and follow-up questions

By focusing on just three points, you avoid overwhelming your interviewer. This allows an audience more time to digest what you’ve said and consider further questions.

Your pitch may also spark follow-up questions from the interviewer. Think about what a listener might ask, so that you can prepare some responses in advance. By pre-empting your interviewer’s questions, you can avoid your mind going blank, whilst also demonstrating your empathetic people skills. 

CRAFT AN INTERVIEW ELEVATOR PITCH IN ADVANCE 

Now we understand what an elevator pitch is and the benefits of tapping into the ‘power of three’. Let’s now look at job seekers can prepare an answer in advance: 

Think about what attracted you to the job 

What was it about the role or the company culture that initially caught your eye? Make clear your sincere passion for the role and company.

Include how the opportunity aligns with your passions, career ambitions and  long term goals. Research the company and explain why you are interested in joining. This is a great place to start when answering the ‘why would we hire you?’ question.

Refer to real life example

Identify the three real life skills or experiences you will mention. Write down everything you would like the hiring manager to know about your skills, experiences and accomplishments. Your list should include ‘hard skills’ and ‘soft skills’.  ‘Hard skills’ include project management, whereas ‘soft skills’  are communication and the ability to be a team player.

Then, begin crossing out everything you’ve mentioned that isn’t critical to your core pitch. So instead of spelling out every skill and the years of experience you have, you end up with three key points. Your ‘power of three’ points will intrigue and engage the interviewer. 

Be informative but succinct

Don’t risk disengaging the interviewer with an overly long and poorly structured response. Every word, sentence and reason you use in your answer needs to have a purpose. Therefore, sticking to just three key points can be so powerful. 

Clarify what you can offer the company 

Tailor the pitch to them rather than you. Be sure to focus on what you can offer the company. For example, explain how your unique qualities could help the hiring manager to solve the problem that this job exists to solve. 

Practise your response out loud 

Rehearse, but also leave room to be spontaneous. Prepare your answer sufficiently so that you are able to confidently explain why the interviewer should hire you. However, be sure not to over-rehearse your response to such an extent that you come across as robotic when you give it. You will still, after all, wish to come across like a human being in how you communicate with your interviewer. 

A SAMPLE ‘ELEVATOR PITCH’ STYLE RESPONSE TO TAILOR FOR YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW 

Here’s a strong example answer that you might consider modifying for your upcoming interview. I have numbered the three separate parts in this response as an example of how to incorporate the ‘power of three’ into your response.

“The pioneering and innovative approach that XXX has impresses me. When I came across the job advertisement for this role, it sparked my interest. The job matches my career goals and I am excited about the opportunity to work with a leading company.

I think there are three key reasons why you should hire me. 

(1) Firstly, I believe I can provide the team management and coaching skills that you’ve asked for in the job description. I have a proven track record of empowering and developing high-performing teams. Successfully managing teams is something I enjoy doing.

 (2) Secondly, I can bring a strong commercial acumen, which delivers proven results, to your organisation. An example of that is the fact that my team helped to drive a 25% boost in sales over just two years. This boost was due to the strategic repositioning of one of our key products.

(3) And thirdly, I consider myself to be skilled in innovative and creative thinking. I can help to protect your organisation from the change and disruption which is inevitably around the corner.”

PREPARE YOUR ANSWERS TO COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 

Don’t let the thought of answering “Why should I hire you?” intimidate you. Instead, prepare! Think of this question as the perfect opportunity to elevate the hiring manager’s interest.

Take this opportunity to the unique skills and experiences you can bring to the role. You should ensure they remember you for all the right reasons.

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